Gooseberry Hill master athlete reflects on golden championships

Bert Carse with his medals and awards from the Masters Championships in Perth. Picture: David Baylis

WORLD champion track and field athlete Bert Carse from Gooseberry Hill won three medals in the 22nd World Master Athletics Track and Field Championships.

More than 4000 competitors and 3000 supporters from about 80 countries from 35yrs to 97yrs old competed in 25 events from the javelin to the triple jump, the 100m sprint to the marathon.

A member of the WA Marathon club and the Master WA Athletic Club, Carse said he was more than ready to compete in this year’s event.

Carse said he had competed in a number of World Master Track and Field Championships previously.

“I was mentally and physically ready to compete in the 75 to 79 age group on the day of the championships due to a good 5000m training programme, a good physiotherapist Lauren Shell, who also won races in the women 35 to 39 age group, the support of my wife Bridget, family, friends and the local community in Kalamunda.”

He said he had race plans that he put into place on the track and on most occasions, they worked.

He holds the gold medal for the 8km cross country team for Australia, silver medals as an individual in both the 1500m (5:42.87) and 5000m, (20:52.43 State Record ) and a gold medal for the team event marathon and individual silver medal (1:54:03 ) in the half marathon (21.1 kms).

Such a strong field of competitors meant that events were held at the WA Athletics Stadium and Ern Clark Athletic Centre.

When not training or practising his painting at the Kalamunda Learning Centre, he can be found spending time with his three children, his six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.